May 2007 we stayed our first night in the Lavra monastery. Before the closing of the gate at nightfall we explored the buildings outside the monastery. Two german sheperds apparently belonging to monks who lived outside the walls took the chance to follow us.

Notice the chopperplatform on the left
.
aquaduct

The next day we took of to Kavsokalivia but first we planned to visit the romanian skete of Podromou. Immediatlely the two dogs showed up and walked with us. The old path was difficult to follow so we and the dogs took the dirt road. The dirt road became a new road under construction but the dogs had no intention to go back.

Lavra in the background.

After an hour we reached Podromou. The dogs knew very well that they were not allowed to enter the skete and waited obediently in front of the gate. We got the usual water, raki and coffee and some really fresh bread and as we continued our walk to Kavsokalivia the dogs were gone.
I presumed they’d walked back to Lavra. They were good company on a rather boring road.